From $10 to $5,980: what people really hire humans for
Real people pay real money for everything from collecting perfume to hosting horror podcasts.
Someone just paid $5,980 to hire a content creator for real estate video ideas. On the same platform, another person paid $10 to find people to join their golf group. Between those extremes sits a universe of work that reveals what people actually need help with when AI can't finish the job.
Based on 23,000 tasks posted over the last six months, people hire humans for everything you'd expect and plenty you wouldn't.
The high-value work people post
The top-paying tasks cluster around expertise you can't automate. A social media marketing manager role offered SGD 5,000. A horror podcast host earned USD 4,000. Someone paid SGD 4,800 for a school canteen stall assistant.
Financial planners commanded SGD 4,000 and drew 6 offers on average. IT field support for a 2-month contract paid USD 3,600 and got 2 offers. Brand ambassadors with travel opportunities posted at SGD 3,500 and attracted 3 offers each.
The mid-range gigs that fill fast
UGC creators for brands like Carl's Jr earned SGD 120 and drew 2 offers. Restaurant and kitchen workers filming their day got SGD 64 and pulled 20 offers. Beauty UGC creators at SGD 50 each attracted 2 offers.
Tutoring work ranged from SGD 30 for P4 Zoom classes to SGD 35 for swim instruction, which got 10 offers. Career chat sessions paid SGD 30 and drew 8 offers. Part-time proxy buyers earned SGD 20 and received 5 offers.
The unusual requests people actually post
Someone paid SGD 40 for a picture of an authentic Thai funeral. Another person offered SGD 60 to install IKEA VIDGA curtain tracks in 4 rooms. A third paid SGD 20 with the urgent request to collect their perfume.
One person needed someone to accompany them to a clinic for emergency contraception and paid SGD 40. Someone else offered SGD 30 to transcribe a 10-minute solo piano medley. A third paid SGD 30 to purchase something from a Korean card store.
The work gets stranger. Someone paid SGD 30 to sort and photograph Duplo and Play Mobil toys. Another offered SGD 250 for tattoo service, female to female. A third paid SGD 120 for help with an affidavit.
What the numbers reveal about hiring humans
The typical task on Quest posts at SGD 30 in Singapore or USD 72 in the US. Across 23,000 tasks posted over the last six months, most jobs fall between SGD 20 and SGD 500. Posts typically draw 1 offer, though the right task can pull many more.
People turn to hiring for three reasons. First, the task requires physical presence that AI can't provide. Second, it needs human judgment in a specific context. Third, it's cheaper to pay someone once than build the skill yourself. Side hustle statistics show that millions of people actively seek exactly this kind of flexible work.
The tasks people post show what digital tools still can't handle. AI won't collect your perfume, install your curtain tracks, or accompany you to urgent care. It won't transcribe your piano medley by ear or purchase items from a physical Korean card store.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of tasks do people hire humans for?
People hire humans for content creation, errands, tutoring, event staffing, research participation, delivery, installation, and specialized services. Tasks range from $10 to over $5,000 depending on complexity, duration, and expertise required.
How much can you earn doing tasks for people?
Earnings vary widely based on task type and expertise. Simple errands pay $10 to $30, tutoring and content creation earn $30 to $120, and specialized work like marketing management or financial planning commands $3,000 to $5,000 per assignment.
What tasks get the most offers from people?
Restaurant filming tasks drew 20 offers, swim instruction got 10 offers, and career chat sessions attracted 8 offers. Tasks that are quick, interesting, and clearly defined tend to get more responses from available workers.
Why do people hire humans instead of using AI?
Most tasks require physical presence, real-world interaction, or human judgment in specific contexts that AI cannot provide. Examples include collecting items, attending appointments, installing equipment, filming in specific locations, and providing in-person services.
Data source: Analysis of 23,000 tasks posted on Quest over the last six months. Sample includes completed and in-progress tasks across Singapore and US markets. Currency figures reflect local currencies where tasks were posted (SGD for Singapore, USD for US).
